ChromeLoader Malware Targeting Gamers via Fake Nintendo and Steam Game Hacks

A new ChromeLoader malware campaign has been observed being distributed via virtual hard disk VHD files, marking a deviation from the ISO optical disc image format. "These VHD files are being distributed with filenames that make them appear like either hacks or cracks for Nintendo and Steam games...

ChromeLoader Malware Targeting Gamers via Fake Nintendo and Steam Game Hacks

A new ChromeLoader malware campaign has been observed being distributed via virtual hard disk VHD files, marking a deviation from the ISO optical disc image format. "These VHD files are being distributed with filenames that make them appear like either hacks or cracks for Nintendo and Steam games...

Threat Roundup for September 16 to September 23

Today, Talos is publishing a glimpse into the most prevalent threats we've observed between Sept. 16 and Sept. 23. As with previous roundups, this post isn't meant to be an in-depth analysis. Instead, this post will summarize the threats we've observed by highlighting key behavioral...

Microsoft Warns of Large-Scale Click Fraud Campaign Targeting Gamers

Microsoft said it's tracking an ongoing large-scale click fraud campaign targeting gamers by means of stealthily deployed browser extensions on compromised systems. "The attackers monetize clicks generated by a browser node-webkit or malicious browser extension secretly installed on devices,"...

Social Media Hijacking Malware Spreading Through Gaming Apps on Microsoft Store

A new malware capable of controlling social media accounts is being distributed through Microsoft's official app store in the form of trojanized gaming apps, infecting more than 5,000 Windows machines in Sweden, Bulgaria, Russia, Bermuda, and Spain. Israeli cybersecurity company Check Point dubbe...

Traffic Exchange Networks Distributing Malware Disguised as Cracked Software

An ongoing campaign has been found to leverage a network of websites acting as a "dropper as a service" to deliver a bundle of malware payloads to victims looking for "cracked" versions of popular business and consumer applications. "These malware included an assortment of click fraud bots, other...

Check your passwords! Synology NAS devices under attack from StealthWorker

Synology PSIRT Product Security Incident Response Team has put out a warning that it has recently seen and received reports about an increase in brute-force attacks against Synology devices. PSIRT suspects the botnet commonly known as StealthWorker is responsible for this increase in activity...

Browser Notification Spam Tricks Clicks for Ad Revenue

As many countries reintroduced lockdowns and restrictions, more people are once again stuck at home. Not only are people possibly bored at home, but many major sporting events are taking place. This brings fans to streaming sites to watch the games and inadvertently becoming victims of a major...

EINSTEIN Data Trends – 30-day Lookback

Summary Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency CISA analysts have compiled the top detection signatures that have been the most active over the month of May in our national Intrusion Detection System IDS, known as EINSTEIN. This information is meant to give the reader a closer look into...

How 18 Malware Apps Snuck Into Apple's App Store

Sing it loud: The App Store's not perfect. Especially when it's up against click fraud code this clever...

Fake iOS Jailbreak Site Lures in Apple Users

Bad actors are taking advantage of a recently-disclosed iOS bug with a fake website claiming to give iPhone users the ability to jailbreak their phones. In reality, researchers warn, the site ultimately enables attackers to conduct click fraud. A jailbreak, a method to escape Apple’s limitations ...

Checkrain fake iOS jailbreak leads to click fraud

By Warren Mercer and Paul Rascagneres. Introduction Attackers are capitalizing on the recent discovery of a new vulnerability that exists across legacy iOS hardware. Cisco Talos recently discovered a malicious actor using a fake website that claims to give iPhone users the ability to jailbreak...

Divergent: "Fileless" NodeJS Malware Burrows Deep Within the Host

Update 09/27/2019: Additional information regarding the malware interaction with various online advertisements has been included to highlight the click-fraud related network communications associated with Divergent. Executive summary Cisco Talos recently discovered a new malware loader being used...

Thousands of PCs Affected by Nodersok/Divergent Malware

New malware identified by Microsoft and Cisco Talos has affected thousands of PCs in the United States and Europe and turns systems into proxies for performing malicious activity, the companies said. The fileless threat—called Nodersok by Microsoft and Divergent by Cisco Talos—has many of its own...

Clickjacking Evolves to Hook Millions of Top-Site Visitors

Clickjacking, where links on a website redirect unknowing users to spam, advertising or malware, has been around for decades. However, new tactics that defy the best mitigation efforts of browsers has led to it affecting millions of internet users browsing the web’s top sites, researchers found i...

Threat Roundup for March 15 to March 22

Today, Talos is publishing a glimpse into the most prevalent threats we've observed between March 15 and March 22. As with previous roundups, this post isn't meant to be an in-depth analysis. Instead, this post will summarize the threats we've observed by highlighting key behavioral...

8 Popular Android Apps Caught Up In Million-Dollar Ad Fraud Scheme

Cheetah Mobile—a prominent Chinese app company, known for its popular utility apps like Clean Master and Battery Doctor—and one of its subsidiary Kika Tech have allegedly been caught up in an Android ad fraud scheme that stole millions of dollars from advertisers. According to app analytics firm...

Virus Bulletin 2018: Exposing the Social Media Fraud Ecosystem

MONTREAL — While troll farms, influence campaigns and Twitter bots that spread disinformation have all become high-profile and negative aspects of the social-media universe, new research shows that there is actually a rich and complex supply chain behind these efforts. “Social-media fraud is...

Mirai Botnet Authors Avoid Jail Time

Citing "extraordinary cooperation" with the government, a court in Alaska on Tuesday sentenced three men to probation, community service and fines for their admitted roles in authoring and using "Mirai," a potent malware strain used in countless attacks designed to knock Web sites offline --...

7 Chrome Extensions Spreading Through Facebook Caught Stealing Passwords

Luring users on social media to visit lookalike version of popular websites that pop-up a legitimate-looking Chrome extension installation window is one of the most common modus operandi of cybercriminals to spread malware. Security researchers are again warning users of a new malware campaign th...